BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 24, 2020– The number of COVID-19 cases is ballooning in the country. This afternoon, Monday, the Ministry of Health issued a press release in which it informed the public that the number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 713, a 27-case jump over the tally of cases on Sunday, which was 686 — an 18-case jump over that of Saturday, when the total number of cases was 668.
The Health Ministry’s press release today stated, “A further 181 samples were processed, of which 27 were positive.
“The preliminary breakdown is as follows: Corozal — 2 (Altamira & Paraiso); Belize — 4 (3 in Belize City & 1 in San Pedro); Cayo — 5 (Belmopan 3 & Armenia 2); and Orange Walk — 16 (OW Town, August Pine Ridge, San Felipe, Yo Creek, San Lazaro, San Jose Palmar, San Estevan).”
The Ministry’s release also stated, “We have 4 more deaths to report, and we will report on this throughout the afternoon on the social media platform. We have one recovered case.”
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health announced that the 18 additional cases than had been tallied on Saturday were discovered after the Ministry of Health processed 165 more samples. Of those 18 cases, 7 are from the Belize District (3 ³n Belize City, 1 ³n Ñàóå Ñàulkår, and 3 in ½àn Ðådrî); 5 from the Cayo District (all in Belmopan); 1 from the Stann Creek District, and 1 from the Toledo District.
Health authorities were awaiting the test results for a patient who was transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, from San Felipe, Orange Walk District, but was declared dead on arrival. It is suspected that he died of COVID-19 complications
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health said that 165 samples were tested the night before, out of which 20 new positive cases were found. As a result, the total number of COVID-19 cases on Saturday, August 22, was 668.
Of the 20 positive cases found on Saturday, one was discovered in the Cayo District, and is linked to a previous case in Ontario Village; 6 are from the Corozal District, all linked to previous cases; and 1 case is from San Pedro and another from Belize City — both of which are linked to previous cases.
Eleven cases are from the Orange Walk District, of which 9 are linked to previous cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that there are at least 30 vaccines that are being developed and are in clinical trials, which can potentially put a halt to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but there are no guarantees that they will be effective and safe.
Scientists still don’t fully understand how the COVID-19 virus affects the body, or how well a person can be protected from re-infection.
WHO said that there is no “silver bullet” for the coronavirus, and that there may never be one.
Every single person can make a difference in the outcome of the pandemic. Every person and family has a responsibility to know the level of COVID-19 transmission locally, and to understand what they can do to protect themselves and others.
Members of the community are reminded to wear their masks in public, practice social distancing, avoid crowded places, and wash hands frequently.